Word
Definition
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology (merriam-webster.com dictionary.com)
Memory aid
Sentence: Use a core specific absolute phrase: The penguin waddled across the ice, his stubby wings flapping, his eyes watering because, in Antarctica, he cannot purchase any Justin Bieber songs.
Pictures
Word: inchoate Definition: just beginning; not fully shaped or formed Synonyms: incipient, embryonic, rudimentary Antonyms: mature developed, complete Etymology: L inchoātus, var. of incohātus ptp. of incohāre tobegin,start work on Memory Aid: babies are in inchoate stages of adulthood Sentence: The clay bowl sat in its inchoate stages, its sides uneven and in need of touch-ups before it was sold.
Thomas Moran
Word: carte blanche
Definition: (n) full freedom or authority to act at one's own discretion
Synonyms: blank check, free rein
Etymology: 1645–55; < F: lit., blank document Memory Aid: blanche looks like blank; blank check Sentence: The girl felt the carte blanche the day she moved out, her mind day dreaming about all the mischief she could get in without getting yelled at. Pictures: Shelby Friend
Word: éclat
Definition: (n) dazzling or conspicuous success or acclaim; great brilliance (of performance or achievement)
Synonyms: celebrity
Antonyms: dullness, insipidity, mediocrity
Etymology:1665–75; < F: splinter, fragment, burst, flash, brilliance, OFesclat,n. deriv. of esclaterto burst, break violently, prob. < Old Low Franconian *slaitanto split, break (cf. OHGsleizanto tear), a causative of Gmc *slitan;see slit
Memory Aid: e, c and t in "celebrity"
Sentence: The éclat from the movie was chased by crazed fans, his heart pounding from running.
Pictures
Megan Kane
Word- opt
Definition- to make a choice or decision
Synonyms- choose, select, decide
Etymology- 1875–80; < Fopterto choose, divide < L optāreto wish for, desire, pray for, choose, select
Memory aid- OPTtion
Sentence- The student had to opt where to attend college, her mind distorting her heart, because she knew this was one of the biggest decisions of her life.
Pictures-
Jackie Plevelich
Word- Gambol (v) Definition- to jump or skip about playfully Synonyms- frolic, romp, cavort, caper Antonyms- lumber, trudge, plod Etymology- 1495–1505; earlier gambold, gambald, gamba ( u ) de < MF gambade; Memory Aid- Gambol is said like gamble. And when gamblers win their hand, they jump for joy. Sentence- The kangaroo gamboled over the fire pit, his tail nipping the fire. Pictures- Nikita Lewis
Word- Refractory (adj.)
Definition- stubborn; hard or difficult to manage; not responsive to treatment or cure
Synonyms- unruly, disobedient, willful, mulish
Antonyms- docile, tractable, dutiful, obedient
Etymology- alteration of refractary, from Latin refractarius, irregular from refragari to oppose, from re- + -fragari (as in suffragari to support with one's vote)
Memory aid- Light refraction
Sentence: The referee ejected the refractory players from the game, his fists trembling in vain entitlement.
Raymond To
Word: Queasy
Definition: Nauseated or uneasy; causing nausea or uneasiness; troubled Synonyms: Unsettled Antonyms: calm, untroubled, confident Etymology: 1459, coysy, possibly from O.N. kveisa "boil," perhaps influenced by Anglo-Fr. queisier, from O.Fr. coisier "to wound, hurt, make uneasy," from the same Gmc. root as kveisa. But history is obscure and evidences of development are wanting. Memory aid: Queasy and Uneasy rhyme Sentence: The boy stumbled to the garbage can, his face turning green with queasiness, his stomach flipping from the wicked turns of the roller coaster. Pictures: Leah Schultz
Lampoon
Definition: (n.) a malicious satire; (v.) to satirize, ridicule
Synonyms: burlesque, parody
Antonyms: compliment, flattery, homage
Etymology: 1635–45; < F lampon,said to be n. use of lamponslet us guzzle (from a drinking song), impv. of lamper,akin to laperto lap up < Gmc; see lap3
Memory aid: National Lampoon
Sentence: The Michigan defense was lampooned by Jon Diebler and the Ohio State Buckeyes, the team losing by 30 points.
Word: ambivalent Definition: having opposite and conflicting feelings about someone or something Synonyms: equivocal, ambiguous, of two minds Antonyms: unequivocal, unambiguous, clear-out Etymology: "simultaneous conflicting feelings," 1924, from Ger. Ambivalenz , coined 1910 by Swiss psychologistEugen Bleuler (18571939) on modelof Ger.Equivalenz "equivalence," etc., from L. ambi- "both" (see ambi-) + valentia "strength," from prp. of valere "be strong" (see valiant). Memory aid: ambivalent looks like valiant Sentence: The ambivalent couple fought over the bills, their anger rising over the limit. Pictures
melissa belanger
Word- Cataclysm (n.) Definition- a sudden, violent, or devastating upheaval; a surging flood, deluge Synonyms- disaster, catastrophe Etymology- via French fromLatin,from Greekkataklusmosdeluge Memory aid- cataclysm-> catastrophe Sentence: The cataclysm damaged many homes, its devastation spanning for miles along the coast.
-Zack Hutton
Philistine
Definition: Lacking in, hostile to, or smugly indifferent to cultural and artistic values or refinements; such a person
Synonyms: boorish, lowbrow, yahoo
Antonyms: refined, cultivated, esthete, highbrow
Etymology: 1350–1400; ME < LLPhilistīnī (pl.) < LGkPhilistînoi < Hebpəlishtīm
Memory aid: the end of philistine is like time so you could say stubborn to old ways
Sentence: The philistine voter stormed out of the voting booth, his face sweating in frustration because he knew his choice was an underdog in the polls.
old-fashioned-way.jpg
bron63l.jpg
-Jacqueline Pyros
Word: fastidious Definition: overly demanding or hard to please; excessively careful in regard to details; easily disgusted Synonyms: precise, meticulous, exacting, finicky Antonyms: careless, sloppy, messy, untidy, slovenly Etymology: 1375–1425; late ME < L fastīdiōsus squeamish, equiv. to fastīdi ( um ) lack of appetite, disgust, perh. by syncope of *fastutīdium ( fastu-, comb. form of fastus pride, conceit + -tīdium comb. form of taedium tedium) + -ōsus -ous Memory aid: people who are fastidious want their demands met fast Sentence: Editors of well-known newspapers must be fastidious to ensure their paper is as error-free as possible. Photos:
Emma Kurfis
Word-Nemesis
Definition- an agent orforce inflicting vengeance or punishment; retribution itself; an unbeaten rival
Synonyms- Commeuppance, avenger
Antonyms- Guardian angel, ally, patron
Etymology (merriam-webster.com dictionary.com)-< L < Gknémesislit., a dealing out, verbid of némeinto dispense (justice); see -sis
Memory aid- Think of any superhero ever, they almost always have a nemesis
Sentence: The superhero celebrated with the people of the town, his nemesis crying in his hideout, because the superhero stopped his evil plan.
Pictures
emma watson with short hair side view
emma watson pixie haircut
Word: Debauch
Definition: (v.) to corrupt morally, seduce; to indulge in dissipation; (n.) an act or occasion of dissipation or vice
Synonyms: carouse, spree, orgy
Antonyms: elevate, uplift, inspire, purify
Etymology: 1585–95; < Fdébaucherto entice away from duty, debauch, OFdesbauchierto disperse, scatter, equiv. to des-dis-1 + -bauchier,deriv. of bauc, bauchbeam (< Gmc; see balcony, balk; cf. Fébaucherto rough-hew); hence, presumably, to hew (beams) > to split, separate > to separate from work or duty
Memory aid: DEbauch sounds like DElonte, who seduced LeBron's mom
Sentence: The underclassmen girl, debauched by the influences of highschool, dissappointed her parents when she stumbled in past curfew. .
Pictures:
Haley Jacob
Abeyance (n.) Definition- a state of being temporarily inactive, suspended, or set aside Synonyms- determent, postponement, suspension Etymology-Anglo-French, from Old French abaer to expect, await, literally, to gape, from a- + baer to gape, yawn Memory Aid-think of a astronaut in space. Astronaut and abeyance both start with a. Sentence: The astronaut floated among millions of stars, his body in abeyance. Ioana Blidaru
Picaresque (adj) involving or charachteristic of clever rouges or adventureres syn- roguish, rascally, rakish Etymology- Spanish picaresco, from pícaro First Known Use: 1810memory aid- Huck Finn, Picaro character Sentence Huck Finn met many strange and unusual charachters on his adventure, his journey definetley being picaresque.
Definition
Synonyms
Antonyms
Etymology (merriam-webster.com dictionary.com)
Memory aid
Sentence: Use a core specific absolute phrase: The penguin waddled across the ice, his stubby wings flapping, his eyes watering because, in Antarctica, he cannot purchase any Justin Bieber songs.
Pictures
Word: inchoate
Definition: just beginning; not fully shaped or formed
Synonyms: incipient, embryonic, rudimentary
Antonyms: mature developed, complete
Etymology: L inchoātus, var. of incohātus ptp. of incohāre tobegin, start work on
Memory Aid: babies are in inchoate stages of adulthood
Sentence: The clay bowl sat in its inchoate stages, its sides uneven and in need of touch-ups before it was sold.
Thomas Moran
Word: carte blanche
Definition: (n) full freedom or authority to act at one's own discretion
Synonyms: blank check, free rein
Etymology: 1645–55; < F: lit., blank document
Memory Aid: blanche looks like blank; blank check
Sentence: The girl felt the carte blanche the day she moved out, her mind day dreaming about all the mischief she could get in without getting yelled at.
Pictures:
Shelby Friend
Word: éclat
Definition: (n) dazzling or conspicuous success or acclaim; great brilliance (of performance or achievement)
Synonyms: celebrity
Antonyms: dullness, insipidity, mediocrity
Etymology:1665–75; < F: splinter, fragment, burst, flash, brilliance, OF esclat, n. deriv. of esclater to burst, break violently, prob. < Old Low Franconian *slaitan to split, break (cf. OHG sleizan to tear), a causative of Gmc *slitan; see slit
Memory Aid: e, c and t in "celebrity"
Sentence: The éclat from the movie was chased by crazed fans, his heart pounding from running.
Pictures
Megan Kane
Word- opt
Definition- to make a choice or decision
Synonyms- choose, select, decide
Etymology- 1875–80; < F opter to choose, divide < L optāre to wish for, desire, pray for, choose, select
Memory aid- OPTtion
Sentence- The student had to opt where to attend college, her mind distorting her heart, because she knew this was one of the biggest decisions of her life.
Pictures-
Jackie Plevelich
Word- Gambol (v)
Definition- to jump or skip about playfully
Synonyms- frolic, romp, cavort, caper
Antonyms- lumber, trudge, plod
Etymology- 1495–1505; earlier gambold, gambald, gamba ( u ) de < MF gambade;
Memory Aid- Gambol is said like gamble. And when gamblers win their hand, they jump for joy.
Sentence- The kangaroo gamboled over the fire pit, his tail nipping the fire.
Pictures-
Nikita Lewis
Word- Refractory (adj.)
Definition- stubborn; hard or difficult to manage; not responsive to treatment or cure
Synonyms- unruly, disobedient, willful, mulish
Antonyms- docile, tractable, dutiful, obedient
Etymology- alteration of refractary, from Latin refractarius, irregular from refragari to oppose, from re- + -fragari (as in suffragari to support with one's vote)
Memory aid- Light refraction
Sentence: The referee ejected the refractory players from the game, his fists trembling in vain entitlement.
Raymond To
Word: Queasy
Definition: Nauseated or uneasy; causing nausea or uneasiness; troubled
Synonyms: Unsettled
Antonyms: calm, untroubled, confident
Etymology: 1459, coysy, possibly from O.N. kveisa "boil," perhaps influenced by Anglo-Fr. queisier, from O.Fr. coisier "to wound, hurt, make uneasy," from the same Gmc. root as kveisa. But history is obscure and evidences of development are wanting.
Memory aid: Queasy and Uneasy rhyme
Sentence: The boy stumbled to the garbage can, his face turning green with queasiness, his stomach flipping from the wicked turns of the roller coaster.
Pictures:
Leah Schultz
Lampoon
Definition: (n.) a malicious satire; (v.) to satirize, ridicule
Synonyms: burlesque, parody
Antonyms: compliment, flattery, homage
Etymology: 1635–45; < F lampon, said to be n. use of lampons let us guzzle (from a drinking song), impv. of lamper, akin to laper to lap up < Gmc; see lap3
Memory aid: National Lampoon
Sentence: The Michigan defense was lampooned by Jon Diebler and the Ohio State Buckeyes, the team losing by 30 points.
Word: ambivalent
Definition: having opposite and conflicting feelings about someone or something
Synonyms: equivocal, ambiguous, of two minds
Antonyms: unequivocal, unambiguous, clear-out
Etymology: "simultaneous conflicting feelings," 1924, from Ger. Ambivalenz , coined 1910 by Swiss psychologist Eugen Bleuler (18571939) on model of Ger. Equivalenz "equivalence," etc., from L. ambi- "both" (see ambi-) + valentia "strength," from prp. of valere "be strong" (see valiant).
Memory aid: ambivalent looks like valiant
Sentence: The ambivalent couple fought over the bills, their anger rising over the limit.
Pictures
melissa belanger
Word- Cataclysm (n.)
Definition- a sudden, violent, or devastating upheaval; a surging flood, deluge
Synonyms- disaster, catastrophe
Etymology- via French from Latin, from Greek kataklusmos deluge
Memory aid- cataclysm-> catastrophe
Sentence: The cataclysm damaged many homes, its devastation spanning for miles along the coast.
-Zack Hutton
Philistine
Definition: Lacking in, hostile to, or smugly indifferent to cultural and artistic values or refinements; such a person
Synonyms: boorish, lowbrow, yahoo
Antonyms: refined, cultivated, esthete, highbrow
Etymology: 1350–1400; ME < LL Philistīnī (pl.) < LGk Philistînoi < Hebpəlishtīm
Memory aid: the end of philistine is like time so you could say stubborn to old ways
Sentence: The philistine voter stormed out of the voting booth, his face sweating in frustration because he knew his choice was an underdog in the polls.
-Jacqueline Pyros
Word: fastidious
Definition: overly demanding or hard to please; excessively careful in regard to details; easily disgusted
Synonyms: precise, meticulous, exacting, finicky
Antonyms: careless, sloppy, messy, untidy, slovenly
Etymology: 1375–1425; late ME < L fastīdiōsus squeamish, equiv. to fastīdi ( um ) lack of appetite, disgust, perh. by syncope of *fastutīdium ( fastu-, comb. form of fastus pride, conceit + -tīdium comb. form of taedium tedium) + -ōsus -ous
Memory aid: people who are fastidious want their demands met fast
Sentence: Editors of well-known newspapers must be fastidious to ensure their paper is as error-free as possible.
Photos:
Emma Kurfis
Word-Nemesis
Definition- an agent orforce inflicting vengeance or punishment; retribution itself; an unbeaten rival
Synonyms- Commeuppance, avenger
Antonyms- Guardian angel, ally, patron
Etymology (merriam-webster.com dictionary.com)-< L < Gk némesis lit., a dealing out, verbid of némein to dispense (justice); see -sis
Memory aid- Think of any superhero ever, they almost always have a nemesis
Sentence: The superhero celebrated with the people of the town, his nemesis crying in his hideout, because the superhero stopped his evil plan.
Pictures
Word: Debauch
Definition: (v.) to corrupt morally, seduce; to indulge in dissipation; (n.) an act or occasion of dissipation or vice
Synonyms: carouse, spree, orgy
Antonyms: elevate, uplift, inspire, purify
Etymology: 1585–95; < F débaucher to entice away from duty, debauch, OF desbauchier to disperse, scatter, equiv. to des- dis-1 + -bauchier, deriv. of bauc, bauch beam (< Gmc; see balcony, balk; cf. F ébaucher to rough-hew); hence, presumably, to hew (beams) > to split, separate > to separate from work or duty
Memory aid: DEbauch sounds like DElonte, who seduced LeBron's mom
Sentence: The underclassmen girl, debauched by the influences of highschool, dissappointed her parents when she stumbled in past curfew. .
Pictures:
Haley Jacob
Abeyance (n.)
Definition- a state of being temporarily inactive, suspended, or set aside
Synonyms- determent, postponement, suspension
Etymology-Anglo-French, from Old French abaer to expect, await, literally, to gape, from a- + baer to gape, yawn
Memory Aid-think of a astronaut in space. Astronaut and abeyance both start with a.
Sentence: The astronaut floated among millions of stars, his body in abeyance.
Ioana Blidaru
Picaresque
(adj) involving or charachteristic of clever rouges or adventureres
syn- roguish, rascally, rakish
Etymology- Spanish picaresco, from pícaro
First Known Use: 1810memory aid- Huck Finn, Picaro character Sentence Huck Finn met many strange and unusual charachters on his adventure, his journey definetley being picaresque.